Evade & Evasion I.

This is coolbert:

Survive and evade - - SAS.

SERE is more or less an obligatory requirement - - a fundamental, basic, universal and necessary part of special forces and special operations training world-wide?

For instance - - the British SAS:

"Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract" [called "Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape" in U.S. military jargon]

Candidates for inclusion into the ranks of the foremost British special operations unit, having to exist - - survive in the wilds for an extended period, all the while being "hunted" by friendlies playing the role of aggressor.

"Personnel undertake Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract training. The test stage for this training phase requires the candidates to undergo an evasion exercise, dressed in greatcoats to restrict movement and operating in small groups. A Hunter Force from the Special Forces Support Group provides a capture threat."

"The last main test is the Combat Survival course. you are taught survival skills for two weeks, and then . . . you're turned loose . . . dressed in Second World War [WW2] battledress trousers and shirt, a greatcoat with no buttons, and boots with no laces. The hunter force was a company of guardsmen in helicopters. Each man was given the incentive of two weeks' leave if he made a capture."

That Hunter Force [capture threat] is a dedicated unit whose mission is to play the role of the aggressor, chasing after and capturing the the SAS troop if possible. These soldiers from the Hunter Force are competent and very able in their own right, skilled professionals adept at tracking and "hunting" other humans in a rugged environment. If you can get away from them, you can get away from anyone!

The use of a greatcoat sans buttons and boots sans laces is designed in a purposeful and almost maliciously cruel manner to make the job of the evading SAS troop as difficult as possible. Impediments to swift and easy movement - - restrictive - - the idea being again, if you can evade capture dressed in such a manner you can evade and avoid capture probably under any circumstances.

Tough stuff. And I bet a lot of fun for those doing the chasing, the Hunter Force? There is a certain enjoyment to be had in capturing one of your own, running the quarry to ground, an apprehension relished by all other than the SAS soldier. And good training for everyone!

coolbert.